John 7:51

51 "Does our law find someone guilty without hearing him first? Doesn't it want to find out what he is doing?"

John 7:51 Meaning and Commentary

John 7:51

Doth our law judge any man
Or condemn any man; or can any man be lawfully condemned:

before it hear him:
what he has to say for himself; is this the usual process in our courts? or is this a legal one to condemn a man unheard?

and know what he doth?
what his crimes are. This he said, having a secret respect for Christ, though he had not courage enough openly to appear for him.

John 7:51 In-Context

49 No! But this mob knows nothing about the law. There is a curse on them."

50 Then Nicodemus, a Pharisee, spoke. He was the one who had gone to Jesus earlier. He asked,

51 "Does our law find someone guilty without hearing him first? Doesn't it want to find out what he is doing?"

52 They replied, "Are you from Galilee too? Look into it. You will find that a prophet does not come out of Galilee."

53 Then each of them went home.